Volume 4, Issue 10, October – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Exploration of Some Potential Nutritive Wild Edible

Weeds of Aurangabad District, Maharastra, India
Powar Priyatama V*, Shirode Devendra S, Vishvakarma Sonam R, Vishwad Anuja A
1
Pharmaceutics Department, Dr. D. Y .Patil College of Pharmacy, Akurdi Pune,44.
Maharastra, India

Abstract:- India is well known for its “Indus-Vedic”
cultural heritage. Wild edible plants or weeds are
extensively utilised in the daily diet in various regions of
India. Wild edible plants/weeds are critical for the
sustenance of tribal communities in a form of food
material and also as a source of income like timber and
so on. With a vision of erasing the gap in traditional
knowledge regarding utility of wild plant species and
tapping the concealed potential resources for proper
utilization, exploitation, and nutritive evaluation. The
present study represents food potential of some
traditional wild edible plants/ weeds in Aurangabad
District Maharashtra.
information about numerous edible parts of 15 plant
species. This type of comprehensive survey technique
could support to educate the budding pharmacist about
the potential health benefits of wild edible plants/ weeds
which further can be amalgamated in profitable crop
plants. Such methodology will supports to improve food
shortage, economy in rural areas and helps in revival of
infertile lands.
Keywords:- Wild Edible Weeds, Local Markets, Traditional
Knowledge, Nutritional Value.
I. INTRODUCTION

Local surveys were directed at 10 chief local markets
in various area of Aurangabad districts during diverse
period from February 2017 to July 2018. Overall 04
enthusiastic plant collectors and sellers were questioned
using structured questionnaire, formal-informal and
extensive communications to gather comprehensive
information about the plant materials. A combined
assessment of 15 wild vegetables was also carried out to
arrange them for conservation, and sustainable
management.
Present work deals with the demanding study of
different wild edible weeds used by rural people from
Aurangabad District Maharashtra. It revels vital
A weed is a plant developing where it is not wanted,
competing with cultivated plants for food, light, etc. and
spread much faster than other plants. The potential utility of
edible wild weeds is has long been ignored by agriculture
interventions and gardening enthusiasts alike which may
nature’s finest nutrition supplements packed with iron,
calcium, vitamins, antioxidants, fibers, and can include as a
healthy, balanced diet as indigenous super foods. Many
people in ethnic areas still use these edible plants/ weeds as a
rich culinary repertoire, food supplement, preserved for dry
period or sold in rural market which acts as an economical
support pillars for them. Apart from extraordinary nutritional
value and are immune to many diseases by use as ‘Ayurveda’
in Indian Folk- medicine[1-6].

IJISRT19OCT1869 www.ijisrt.com 360

Volume 4, Issue 10, October – 2019
Sr. Biological name
No. name/ common
1 Amaranthus viridis Wild amaranth
2 Portulaca olerace
3 Trifolium fucatum
4 Taraxacum officinale
IJISRT19OCT1869
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Vernacular Used plant Recipe commonly Pharmacological
parts follows Activity
names
 Leaves  Added to salades  Antidiabetic
 Stem and soups  Antihyperlipidemic
 Flower  Used as vegetables  Antioxident
 Root  cooked as a spinach  Emollient
 Seed  Seed can consume  Vermifuge
as cooked seeds  Root juice use in inflammation
during urination
 Treat constipation
 Leaf show diuretic, febrifuge and
purgative action
 Leaf sap used for eye wash to treat
eye infections
 Use for preparation of soap
Purslane  Leaves  Added to salads and  leaves are a rich in Beta Carotene,
 Stem stews and stuffing Mg, K
 Seeds  Leaves ,stems raw  Rich in Alpha Lineolic Acid
or cooked used as a ,Omega 3 Fatty Acid
food  Antibacterial
 Used as a thikner in  Antiscorbutic
soup  Depurative
 Whole seeds  Diuretic
/powder mixed with  Febrifuge
cereals for use in  Use to treat coughs, sores, skin
gruels, bread, infections, stomach aches ,
pancakes etc headaches, dyspepsia
 Preventing heart attacks and
strengthening the immune system
 Muscle-relaxing effects
 Wound healing activity
 Use in treatment of insect bite
/snake bites, boils,
sores, diarrhea, hemorrhoids,
postpartum bleeding, and intestinal
bleeding
 Common  Leaves  Leaves added to  Blood purifier
Name: Clover  Stems salades and flower  Use in treatment of Gaut,
 Family:  Flowers to tea  Anti-rheumatic
Fabaceae or  Seed pods  Cooked as spinach  Anti-scrophulatic
Leguminosae  Root  Powder obtained by  Depurative
dried seed ,pods and  Surfactant
flowers utilized as a  Tonic
flour  For the treatment of fevers,
coughs, colds, leucorrhoea plant
infusion is utilized
 Plant root are also slightly
aperient, cholagogue, depurative,
strongly diuretic, hepatic, laxative,
stomachic and tonic
 Common  Leaves  Leaves added to  Rich In Vit A,K And C Ca ,Fe,K
Name:  Roots salad , roots to soups  Rich source of Protein
Dandelion -  Flowers and stews, roast to  Roots are hypoglycemic
www.ijisrt.com 361
Volume 4, Issue 10, October – 2019
5 Chenopidium album
Bacon weed, Fat
6 Cichorium intybus
IJISRT19OCT1869
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Kukraundha,  Stem boil to make a coffee  Roots are mild antibiotic for yeast
Kanphool, substitute, add infections
dandelion flowers to salads or  Use in gall bladder and urinary
 Family: coat with batter and disorders, gallstones, jaundice,
Asteraceae fry cirrhosis, dyspepsia treatment
/Compositae  It is also used to  Antibacteria (against bacteria such
prepare Pink as Staphylococcus aureus,
Dandelion Wine, Meningococci, Bacillus
Dandelion Root dysenteriae, B. typhi, C,
coffee, Dandelion Pneumococci, diphtheria)
Jelly  Latex used for gall bladder stone
 Magenta-brown dye is obtained
from the root
 Common  Leaves  Added to salads and  Rich In Iron Vit A,C And K . Ca
Name(s):  Shoots stews ,Mg ,fiber
 Seeds  Raita, paratha can  Anthelmintic, antiphlogistic,
hen,  Flowers be prepare antirheumatic, laxative, odontalgic
Goosefoot, activity commonly shown by leaf
Lambs part of plant
quarters,  Use in treatment of rheumatism
Pigweed Lamb  For urinary problems seeds are
quarters chewed
 Family:  The stem juice applied to patches
Chenopodiacea and sunburn
e  The root juice is beneficial in
bloody dysentery
 Leaf juice act as a blood purifier
 Common  Leaves  Used as vegetables  Stimulant
Name:  Shoots  Added to salads  Mild Laxative
Chichory  Seeds  Used for preparation  Use in Constipation, Anemia and
 Family:  Flowers of tea: chicory tea Respiratory Disorder
Asteraceae   Potential effective in swellings and
skin irritations
 Helps to decline symptoms of PMS
or premenstrual syndrome
 Boosting capacity to absorb
vivacious nutrients like calcium
 The juice is folk medicine for
uterus cancer / tumors
 Plant syrup, leaves, seeds are liver
tonic and purifying medicine for
infants
 Leaves for wound healing
 Flowers used in gallstones,
gastroenteritis, sinus problems, cuts,
bruises
 Tea or decoction can be utilized as
a depurative
 Leaves and seed used as a Blood
purifier
 Roots are very effective in
arteriosclerosis, Internal hemorrhage,
digestive disorder, Renal disease and
used as antiarthritis,
antispasmodic,
www.ijisrt.com 362
Volume 4, Issue 10, October – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
etc
 Milky juice or leaf juice used as a
mild sedative
 Roots and leaf part commonly used
as a Diuretic, digestive, laxative, anti-
inflammatory, liver tonic etc.
7 Plantago major  Common  Leaves  Saute in butter and  Rich in Vit A,C And K Iron And
Name: great  Seed garlic for Asthma, Ca
plantain,  Root Ascites, Fever  used in treatment of various
Lesan-ol-haml,  Foodstuff with lentil, diseases such as constipation, coughs,
Barhang Plaster on Forehead wounds, infection, fever, bleeding
 Family: in Epilepsy and inflammation
Plantaginaceae  Vaginal suppository,  Leaf tea effective for eyes sores
 Chemical wash in urinary ,eye choroid diseases, day blindness,
Constituents: tract infection conjunctivitis etc.
flavonoids,  Decoction as tea for  Leaf juice used for toothache,
polysaccharide Kidney’s ducts mouth sores, halitosis, oral
s, iridoid obstruction, lesions,epistaxis, hemoptysis, loose
glycosides, Hematuria, teeth, gingivitis, earache, tonsillitis
terpenoids, Ulcerative colitis, etc
lipids, and Dysentery  Decoction/ tea used in treatment of
derivatives of  Eye ointment for eye asthma, hemoptysis, tuberculosis,
caffeic acid infection lung and plural lesions
 Gargle for stomatitis  Dried seeds and leaf extract
Mouth ulcers, effective for hematemesis, dysentery,
Gingivitis, toothache gastrointestinal bleeding /ulcers,
hemorrhoids, dyspepsia
 Mucilage commonly used for
constipation
 Used as Immune boostor, Anti-
hypercholesteremia, Anti-
atherosclerosis and Hypoglycemic
effect, Antinociceptive Effects,
Antioxidant , Anti-infective,
Antibiotic, and Anti-giardiasic
,Anticancer etc
8 Stellaria media  Common  Leaves  Used in salads  Antioxidant
Name: Alsine,  Stem  Used as a tea or  Fresh plant more effective in
chickweed,  Root tincture for physical constipation, but excess dose can
Chichory, fatigue and cause diarrhea , vomiting
chickenmeat, debilitation.  Dried plant infusion effective in
Adder’s  Tea/ decocation used coughs, hoarseness etc.
mouth, chick as a emmenagogue,  Whole plant decoction effective
wittles, postpartum for piles, sores, skin irritations,
clucken wort, depurative, swelling on legs which show
common galactogogue emollient, anti-inflammatory
passerina,  Infusion of Leaf property, tissue repair activity
satinflower, used in bathing can  In scurvy plant juice is very
sercedili, skirt helps to reduce effective as a rich source of
buttons, star rheumatic pain vitamin
chickweed,  Eat as a salad  Folk medicine as a slimming
starweed, agent
starwort,  Whole plant utilized as
stitchwort, Antirheumatic, Astringent,
tongue grass, Carminative, Demulcent, Diuretic,
vogelmuur,

IJISRT19OCT1869 www.ijisrt.com 363

Volume 4, Issue 10, October – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
white bird’s Emollient, Expectorant, Laxative,
wye and Refrigerant
winterweed.  For broken bones whole plant can
 Family: be used as a plaster
Caryophyllace  Plant juice utilized for eye
ae washing
 Chemical  High in beta carotene (A),ascorbic
Constituents: acid (vitamin C), (GLA, the
Ascorbic-acid, omega-6 fatty acid derivative),
Beta-carotene, niacin, saponins, riboflavin (B2)
Calcium, thiamine (B1), gamma-linolenic
Coumarins, acid iron, magnesium, potassium,
Genistein, calcium, zinc, manganese,
Gamma- phosphorus, sodium, selenium and
linolenic-acid, silica.
Flavonoids,
Hentriacontano
l, Magnesium,
Niacin, Oleic-
acid,
Potassium,
Riboflavin,
Rutin,
Selenium,
Triterpenoid
saponins,
Thiamin, and
Zinc.
9 Malva sylvestris  Common  Leaves  Leaves added to tea,  Rich source of Tannins, Vitamin
name: Mallow,  Flowers flowers used as a A/C, Flavonoids , potassium,
Cheeseweed.  Seed pods remedy for cough calcium, iron, selenium
 Family:  Roots  Use in preparation magnesium etc (beneficial in
Malvaceae of green smoothie, pregnancy).
 Chemical salads / soups  Used To Treat Asthma,
constituents:  Tea can be prepared Bronchitis, Kidney stone,
Vitmains from dried leaves insomnia, chest congestion,
[A,B,C,E], respiratory illness, Diarrhea, dry
mucilage; cough, wounds,
inulin;  Show anti-inflammatory, diuretic,
flavonoids; demulcent, emollient, laxative ,
phenols; fiber; expectorant, analgesic,
essential fatty Immunostimulant, Antibacteria,
acids; Antiaging , demulcent
magnesium;
calcium;
selenium; zinc;
potassium.
10 Rumex crispus  Common  Root  Leaves, seeds are  Root part used to treat Cancer,
name: Curly  Bark boiled with milk and Necrosis
dock, curled flour  The root is utilized as
dock, garden  leaves can be antiscorbutic, alterative,
patience, utilized for cholagogue, astringent, laxative
parell, patience preparation of depurative, and mildly tonic
herb, narrow salads, potherb  Root can be used for numerous
dock, sour soups etc. skin diseases in form of dusting
dock, curly  Seed powder can be powder

IJISRT19OCT1869 www.ijisrt.com 364

Volume 4, Issue 10, October – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
dock, used as flour or  Used internally in the treatment of
 Family: coffee substituent constipation, piles, bleeding of the
Polygonaceae lungs
 Chemical  Root can be mashed and used as
constituents: a poultice and salve, or dried
phenols and  Seed are usefull in diarrhea
phenolic glyco  Fresh roots used for cough
sides,
flavonoids, sap
onins and cyan
ogenic
glycosides, tan
nins, nitrogen
compounds
(amines, betala
ins, and
alkaloids),
terpenoids,
stilben
12 Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard Leaves, roots Used in salads, added to  Contain Vit. A, C, E, Ca, Mg, Cu,
spices Omega -3 Fatty Acids, Selenium,
Fe
13 Sambucus nigra Elder flowers Flowers, Berries are used to  Used In Bronchitis, Cough, Fever
berries, make jam, jelly,
roots chutny, pontac sauce
and flower heads to
refreshing drinks
14 Trifolium pretens Red clover Flowers Added to salads, pan  Rich In Protein , Phyto Estrogen
roast ,Beta Carotene, Bio Flavanoids,
Vit C ,B
15 Urtica dioicia Stinging nettle Leaves Added to omelets, dips,  Diuretic
teas, soups and pesto  Use in Kidney Stone
Table 1:- List of collected wild Edible weeds in Aurangabad district[7-16]

II. RESULTS DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Ethnic plants play a significant part in the nutrition in
rural and tribal communities. The wild edible plants or weeds
are exceptional sources for various nutrients like vitamins,
carbohydrates, proteins, fibers and minerals along with
enormous therapeutic prospective so can be counted as a
super food. The high diversity of wild edible plant species as
shown in Table No.01 in Aurangabad District Maharashtra
demonstrates that people in and around region reserves
possess information about local vegetation that provides
food. In the present survey collected valuable information
about different wild edible weeds/plants used by rural people
from Aurangabad District Maharashtra which revels 15 plant
species are with highest health benefits. The majority of
found plant/ weed species are natives with a limited range of
exotics. Promoting increased use of available biodiversity to
improve dietary intake whether or not combined with income
generation through wild edible plant commercialization
and/or participatory domestication of priority wild edible
plant, may be possible strategies to increase food and
nutrition security in the region. Therefore, the present survey
information has certainly compile a important impact for the
conservation of wild edible plant/weeds indigenous
knowledge in and around Aurangabad District Maharashtra.
 Future Plan:
Preparation of economical Nutrient/food supplements
with rich source of vitamins by utilization of found 15 Wild
edible plants/ weeds in and around Aurangabad District
Maharashtra.
REFERENCES
[1]. https://www.naturallivingideas.com/18-edible-
backyard-weeds-you-should-stop-killing-start-eating/
[2]. https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/32945
[3]. https://modernfarmer.com/2018/07/10-edible-weeds-
likely-growing-in-your-yard/
[4]. https://scholar.google.co.in/scholar?q=amaranthus+viri
dis+pharmacological+activity&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vi
s=1&oi=scholart
[5]. http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/foraging/daisi
es.php

IJISRT19OCT1869 www.ijisrt.com 365

Volume 4, Issue 10, October – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
[6]. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Portulaca+
oleracea
[7]. Gurib-Fakim, “Medicinal plants: traditions of yesterday
and drugs of tomorrow,” Molecular Aspects of
Medicine, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1–93, 2006.
[8]. T. A. Bischoff, C. J. Kelley, Y. Karchesy, M.
Laurantos, P. Nguyen-Dinh, and A. G. Arefi,
“Antimalarial activity of Lactucin and Lactucopicrin:
sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Cichorium
intybus L.,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 95, no.
2-3, pp. 455–457, 2004.
[9]. Pieroni, “Medicinal plants and food medicines in the
folk traditions of the upper Lucca Province,
Italy,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 70, no. 3,
pp. 235–273, 2000
[10]. Aghili M. Makhzan-O-L Advieh. Tehran: Tehran
University of Medical Science Press; 2008
[11]. Arzani M. Tebb-E-Akbari Qom. Institute of Medical
History, Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Iran
University of Medical Sciences publisher; 2007.
[12]. Akram M, Hamid A, Khalil A, Ghaffar A, Tayyaba N,
Saeed A, et al. Review on medicinal uses,
pharmacological, phytochemistry and
immunomodulatory activity of plants. Int J
Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2014;27:313–9.
[13]. Khare CP. Indian Medicinal Plants, An Illustrated
Dictionary. Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag;
2007:219, 508, 583
[14]. Hoffmann D. Medical herbalism: the science and
practice of herbal medicine. Vermont: Inner
Traditions/Bear & Co; 2003:435.
[15]. Hussain F, Hameed I, Dastagir G, Shams-un-Nisa,
Khan I, Ahmad B. Cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity of
some selectedmedicinal plants of the family
Polygonaceae; African Journal of Biotechnology.
9(5):770-774.
[16]. Omara-Alwala, Thomas R.; Mebrahtu, Tadesse; Prior,
Debra E.; Ezekwe, Michael O. (March 1991). "Omega-
three fatty acids in purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Tissues". Journal of the American Oil Chemists'
Society. 68 (3): 198–199. doi:10.1007/BF02657769.

IJISRT19OCT1869 www.ijisrt.com 366